Shipping containers at Felixstowe in Suffolk.
Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Britain's trade position improved in July after a sharp rise in exports to countries outside the European Union.

Exports to non-EU countries increased by £1.3bn to £13.2bn and imports fell almost £1bn to £16.1bn, helping the UK's overall trade deficit ease to £1.5bn from June's £4.3bn.

The Office for National Statistics said the UK's deficit in trade in goods narrowed to £7.1bn in July, down from £10.1bn in June.

However, experts cautioned that depressed demand for imports from beleaguered UK consumers played a large part in the better-than-expected figures along with a jump in exports to the EU that is unlikely to be sustained.

"Anaemic demand at home and a modest uptick in demand for British goods across the Channel are not enough to set the corks popping on the English sparkling wine just yet."

Chris Williamson, chief economist at financial data provider Markit, was also gloomy about the prospects for a sustained improvement in the balance of trade. He said: "Looking through the strong volatility in the numbers over recent months, the data also highlights the underlying weakness of demand both at home and in the UK's main export markets. Any improvement will wane in the fourth quarter unless economic conditions pick up at home and abroad soon."

Ministers are understood to remain concerned that UK exports have failed to move into surplus after the 25% cut in the value of the pound that followed the financial crash in 2008. The deteriorating position of the eurozone nations has hit UK exports, but unlike Germany, the UK has so far failed to break into far eastern markets and emerging countries in South America to increase sales.

The positive balance of trade in services, which has for decades offset the large deficit in goods, slipped in July to £5.6bn from £5.5bn in June and remains well below the £6.4bn it contributed last July.

But the government will be cheered by the boost to non-EU exports after running a high profile export drive across several countries including Brazil and Mexico to improve UK exports. The Great campaign, which has enlisted the support of Prince Harry and ministers from several departments, is an attempt to showcase the quality of British goods and services in countries where the UK has only a toe-hold of sales.

Sign up for the Guardian Today

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.